Nonsuch Bay, a grade I-winning mare in foal to A. P. Warrior, brought the top price of $210,000 during the Nov. 14 session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington.
The 11-year-old Mr. Greeley-Brighter Than Gold mare, who won the Mother Goose (gr. I) and Nassau County Stakes (gr. II) in 2002, was purchased by SF Bloodstock from the consignment of Bluewater Sales, receiver for Stonewall Farm Stallions operation of the Haisfield family.
Nonsuch Bay was purchased by Never Tell Farm, another Haisfield entity, for $1,150,000 from the Mill Ridge Farm consignment to the 2004 Keeneland November sale. The Haisfields and various entities filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year and Bluewater is receiver for the sale of some of their horses.
The gross, average, and median prices all plummeted during the seventh day of the sale that continues through Nov. 20. Keeneland reported 279 horses grossed $4,845,000, down 19.8% when compared with the $6,039,700 total paid for 260 horses during the comparable session a year ago. This year’s session average of $17,366 reflected a 25.2% drop from the $23,230 figure in 2009 and the median fell 40% from $20,000 to $12,000. The 60 horses that did not sell represented a reserve not attained (RNA) rate of 17.7%, compared with an RNA rate of 16.4% in 2009.
Through day seven of the 13-day sale, 1,664 horses have grossed $132,349,800, for an average of $79,537 and a median of $35,000. A total of 1,545 horses sold for $145,456,800 during the same period in 2009, for an average of $94,147 and a median of $45,000.
Josham Farms Limited, agent, paid the day’s second-highest price of $85,000 for Gentle Words, a 15-year-old Bertrando mare sold in foal to Candy Ride . Produced from Tabled Passion, by Graustark. Gentle Words is the dam of 2007 El Cajon Stakes winner Rush With Thunder.
Northwest Stud Stable went to $82,000 for the stakes-placed Double Major, another daughter of Bertrando also offered in foal to Candy Ride. Produced from the Storm Cat mare Common Hope, the 6-year-old Double Major is from the family of stakes winners Half Ours and Yankee Gentlemen.
Gentle Words and Double Major were both consigned by Lane’s End, agent for Pam and Martin Wygod.
Also bringing a final bid of $82,000 was Notting Hill, a graded stakes winner in Brazil who ran third in Del Mar’s John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. I) who is in foal to Aragorn. She was purchased by Brookdale Farm, agent. By Jules out of Light Lida, by Alleged, Notting Hill was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent for the Compete Dispersal of Gulf Coast Farms.